Non renewable energy sources.

renewable

We have written a lot about renewable energy sources, but the world is still mainly powered by non renewable energy sources. The first problem with non renewable energy sources are not only that once they are depleted they are no more (although proven reserves of non renewable energy sources indicates that there is still more of it then the world can consume for a very long time, hence the current oversupply of oil.).

The second problem is that although there are plenty of known reserves some of them are costly to access, which can turn into a positive if renewable energy becomes cheaper as non renewable energy.

The third problem is environmental, the extraction of fossil fuels can damage the surrounding environment including, water pollution and extraction of water. When burning fossil fuels it can have an affect on the health of nearby populations and it is a major contributor to global warming. The main disadvantage for nuclear fuel is radio active waste, which needs to be managed very well. A major incident with a nuclear reactor can have negative effects for a wide area.

The economic cost of non renewable energy, might not be around currently, but future generations might suffer the consequences.

Some non renewable energy sources are

Coal

Oil

Natural Gas

Uranium, used for nuclear energy

Surprisingly a lot of people consider wood a non renewable resource, but most plantations are managed well and are replenished at a sufficient rate so that it is considered as a renewable and sustainable source of energy.

Not many South Africans have the cash available to invest in green and renewable energy. The fact is a considerable outlay can be required depending on the solution. It can be difficult to obtain finance through normal channels.

Here is where comes into play. GreenFin provides alternative payment solutions to those individuals who realise the need to change to green energy sooner rather than later. GreenFin assists you with the finance and expertise through our trusted partners to switch over to green and renewable energy solutions now. The sooner one invests in green or renewable energy solutions, the sooner one starts to reap the benefits. Because Greenfin has partnered with trusted and experienced suppliers and installers you will be certain to know that you invest in a quality solution.

With GreenFin´s quick and easy finance application process, you could have your energy solution installed in no time with no down payment required. GreenFin offers an simple application process, flexible repayment terms and very competitive interest rates.

Greenfin can structure your monthly installment to be the same or even less than your current electricity bill!. Don’t delay and contact now.

South Africa is currently in the grip of a heatwave & drought with temperatures well above average. During this heatwave many people are looking to cool down. There are many options and some more affordable / permanent options. Air conditioners are an effective way to cool down you living environment, but they are costly to run consuming electricity. If your house is powered by renewable energy you might not even have enough generating capacity.

Lucky there are more energy efficient solutions to cool down your house and person.

Some tips to survive the heatwave.

Some investments you can make which are cost effective and long term.

Insulation, not only will this keep your house cooler in summer but keep you warmer in winter as well.

Start growing some trees which will shade parts of your roof.

If your roof is of a dark color, consider painting it in a lighter color. The darker the color the more heat is retained. Some newly developed paints have insulating factors as well.

A lot of heat gets in through windows, why not install a tint, many cars have this which keeps them cooler and it is a safety feature as well.

Some tips which will help cooling you down right now cost effectively

Open windows/doors early in the mornings to let cool air in. Leave them open during the day to generate a draft, to avoid heat build up.

Invest in some fans to create a breeze, this will help cool you down as well. Some of them even operate with water/ice to create evaporation cooling. The added advantage is that it will humidify your living environment as well.

Stay out of the sun and look for shady areas

And last but not least. If you have a pool why not take a swim so once in a while. It will refresh you nicely.

This current heatwave is partly caused by El Niño a weather pattern associated with a band of warm ocean water that develops in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific. It affects the climate worldwide. One other reason is global warming triggered by the burning of fossil fuels. Conserving energy and making use of Renewable Energy will help to keep our earth cooler and more comfortable to live in.

Hope some of these tips will help you survive the heatwave. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water as it is easy to become dehydrated.

If you have a heat exchange heated pool, you know that this heated pool is a sizable amount on your electricity bill. Maybe it is time to consider solar heating. Solar heating will have a positive effect on you bank account.

Solar heating systems for pools.

When most people think of solar energy, they normally associate this with large photo voltaic structures that convert sun rays into electricity. However, the sun can also be used for heating pools and geysers. By using solar heating to heat your swimming pool, you can be sure that your morning swim will be comfortable and easy on the pocket.

How to make solar heating for your pool more effective

In most areas the temperature at night will cool down, thereby cooling the pool slightly. A good investment will be a pool cover, this will retain your heat and keeps your pool cleaner. (More time for you to enjoy your heated pool.)

Pool solar panels are normally installed on the roof to capture the most of the sun. The black solar panels consist of tiny tubes. The pool water while pumped through these panels will collect heat which is transfer ed to the pool water.

The use of solar heating heating pools is a time tested technology. You will probably know many pool owners who use the sun to heat their pool. The initial investment has a fast payback time due to saving in electricity use.

So in short, a solar heated pool is a great economical and eco-friendly investment, you will be the envy of your friends with your heated pools.

The department of energy is busy developing a solar energy technology road maps.

The South African Solar Energy Technology Road Map (SETRM) is being developed to provide a comprehensive, aligned, achievable and time bound strategic plan that will help guide: policy and regulatory development, industrial strategy and related investment, education and skills programme development, innovation, research and development; and the overall diffusion of solar technologies in the country, and given the country’s significant regional impact, in the broader Southern Africa region.

The objectives of the Solar energy technology road maps are:

To develop a clear, comprehensive, and prioritized implementation plan (i.e. roadmap) for the development and diffusion of concentrated solar power; solar photovoltaic technology (ies); solar heating and cooling technologies; and related R & D in South Africa toward reduced energy use, carbon emissions reduction; distributed electricity generation, expanded independent power production and electricity supply to the national grid, and the reduction of reliance on carbon fuels.

US government development bank, Overseas Private Investment Corp (OPIC), will invest up to R5.4 billion ($400 million) in a solar thermal plant in SA. The 100MW Redstone solar project, developed by California-based SolarReserve and Saudi Arabian electricity producer ACWA Power, will be situated in the Northern Cape and provide electricity to over 200 000 homes during peak demand once complete. “In itself, [the project is] not that big,” considering SA has a peak power demand of approximately 35 000MW, says Chris Yelland, energy analyst and MD of EE Publishers.

Yet small-scale renewable energy projects are relatively quick to deploy, and a large number of small energy projects affords SA’s energy sphere more flexibility and less risk than relying mostly on large-scale plants, which often take longer than expected to develop, pose greater risk to SA’s power grid if they encounter complications, and are too expensive for private investors to finance, Yelland continues.

Commerzbank AG, Germany’s second-largest lender, expects a 10 percent decline in renewable energy financing deals after a spate of offshore wind projects moved ahead last year. The lender this year plans to arrange new loans with a volume of about 750 million euros ($837 million), focusing on Germany, western Europe and the U.S., Ingrid Spletter-Weiss, the head of bank’s renewable energies unit, told reporters on Tuesday in Hamburg. This follows a surprisingly strong 2014, when wind projects were accelerated to nail down subsidies before the German government cut aid, she said. “You need to really fight for good projects now,” Spletter-Weiss said. “We are seeing much more competition, in particular in the offshore market, which many players still didn’t dare to enter last year.” Europe has more than 91 percent of the world’s offshore turbine installations. The region’s industry needs 10 billion euros by the end of 2016 to expand by about 20 percent, the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) estimated on July 30. Commerzbank’s renewable energy loan portfolio stood at almost 4 billion euros at the end of last year with onshore wind still accounting for a 70 percent share. The share of offshore wind, which made up 5 percent of the total volume, will probably increase to 10 percent in the coming two to three years as growth in the onshore sector slows, Spletter-Weiss said. …

South Africa saved R4 billion ($310 million) in fuel and by avoiding blackouts in the first half of 2015 due to renewable-energy projects, according to a study by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. From January to June, 800 megawatts of wind and 1 gigawatt of solar photovoltaic power-generation saved about R3.6 billion in diesel and coal-fuel costs, according to the Pretoria-based center. During 15 days in the period, renewables either prevented or limited rolling blackouts, the study showed.

South Africa’s state-owned power company Eskom has imposed rolling blackouts almost every other day this year as it struggles to meet demand. The government’s five-round program of clean-energy tenders has awarded more than 5 000 megawatts of projects since 2011.

Saving energy and reducing fuel consumption has many benefits. Not only does reduced energy and fuel consumption save you money, it also saves valuable resources which can be depleted. Another advantage of saving energy is less impact on the environment and preserving valuable resources.

Reduce electricity consumption with these easy tips

Buy Energy Star qualified appliances, or A or B rated appliances and lights. These are the low energy using appliances.

Improve the insulation of your property, to make it cooler in summer and keep it warmer in winter. Les heating and cooling will be required which saves electricity

Turn off appliances and gadgets that are in stand by state.

Set air conditioner’s at a slightly higher temperature in summer and during the winter slightly lower. It will make a difference to your electricity bill

Use air conditioner only in the rooms occupied.

Use a fan instead of air conditioner, they sometimes give effective cooling for a lower electricity consumption.

Avoid opening the fridge door as much as possible

Turn off the light when you leave the room.

Decrease washing machine water temperature and use a shorter cycle, for most laundry it will still come out clean and fresh

Solar Energy or Wind Energy which is the best? This really depends on your location. Sometimes solar energy is the best solution and sometimes wind energy is the best solution. At certain locations both will be an excellent solution to your energy and electricity needs.

Solar Energy

The sun which produces solar energy through several means like solar heating, photo voltaic which produces electricity and solar cooking. The sun rays can be used in many ways and are probably one of the most available and reliable sources of solar energy. There is not a single place on earth which would not receive at least some sun (which means solar energy a day). Solar energy can be implemented on a big scale or a small scale. It is easy for households to produce solar energy by installing solar heating or installing solar panels.

Of course in certain places in the world solar energy is more abundant then other places, but this did not stop Germany to become one of the leading countries in solar energy. Germany is not the most favorable country to produce solar energy but they are leading the world. Talk about defying the odds.

Wind Energy

Unless Solar Energy, wind energy is less viable. Wind Energy is mainly available at coastal areas, but it can be available 24 hours a day. Solar energy is not available 24 hours a day. Wind energy is also more difficult to implement on a smaller scale as it will require construction of huge structures. But there are countries which have successfully implemented wind power or wind energy. One of those countries is Denmark Wind Energy vs Solar Energy which even managed to produce more wind energy in one day as what was required.

Conclusion Solar Energy vs Wind Energy

Solar Energy & Wind Energy can both be very viable and can complement each other to power our earth now and in the future